Loose-leaf binder and the making of same



Sept. 4', 1923.

F.'D. PITT I LOOSE LEAF BINDER AND THE MAKING OF SAME Filed Sept. 50. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I w'mvsssEs:

. ATTORNEY Sept. 4, 1923. 1,466,959 F. D. PlTT LOOSE LEAF BiNDER AND 'THE MAKiNG OF SAME Filed Sent. 30 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

FREDERICK D. PITT, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO IRVING-PITT MANU FACTURING- COMPANY, 'OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI,A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER AND THE MAKING OF SAME.

Application filed September 30, 1921. Serial No. 504,267.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK D. PIT-r,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders and the Making of Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders,and the making of same.

' One of the objects of my invention is to provide a loose leaf binder of the type having two leaf-clamping members, one having leaf-supporting posts attached thereto and the other being slidable on saidposts, with novel means carried by the slidable member for cla-mpingly engaging the posts so as to permit the slidable member tomove 1 n one direction but holding it from moving 1n the opposite direction. I

A furtherobject of my invention is the provision of clamping means of the kind described which is simple,-cheap to make, easy to operate and which is eflicient in operation. 7

Another object of-my invention is-the provision of asimpleand reliable post-clamping member and cheaply; made eflicient means for supporting the same.

My invention provides still further a novel leaf clamping member formed into a tube with interlocking edges and integral pintle barrels, andthe method of making the same. I I v The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3 of a loose leaf binder em bodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, partly in .plan, partly in horizontal section and partly broken away,

F ig.'3 is a plan view,-partly broken away, of a binder provided with my improvements.

Fig. 4: is anenlargedperspectiv view. of one of the fulcrum supports of the post clamping members. r

Fig. 5 is. an enlarged cross section of the slidable leaf-clamping member. and one of the posts on which it ismounted, on the line 5.-5 of Fig.1, the post-,clampingmember being shown in the post-clamping position,

the post being partly broken away.

ber in inverted position.

F ig, 10 is a perspective view of the clampreleasing plate removed from the binder."

F ig. 11 is a detail cross-section of the upper leafclamping member through the cover hinge.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates a leaf-clamping member of an ordinary type having secured' theretotwo posts 2, arranged to support detachable loose leaves 3, and having slidably mounted thereon a leaf-clamping member 4., preferably comprising a sheet of metal formed into a flattened tube and having its meeting edges interlocked with each other, each edge being provided, preferably, with dove-tail-shaped recesses 5 andsimilarly shaped projections 6, fitted respectivelyin the recesses 5 of the opposite. edge. One of said meeting edges is provided with laterally extending .projections formed into pintle barrels 7 in which is mounted a pintle 8, which: is.

mountedin theadjacen-t portions of a cover member 9, Figs. 2 and 8.

Theclamping member 4 is provided with .two holes extending therethrough and designated by 10, in which the .ed to be slidably fitted.

The clamping member 4 may have fitted on its ends respectively twocaps .11..

Mounted in the tubular clamping member posts 2 are adapt- 4 respectively adjacent to the holes 10 ar two supports, each comprising, preferably, a

U-shaped plate 12, having its horizontal bottom. portion rigidly securedto the inner side of the-bottom of the'membere,-and,provided between its-armswith an upstanding arm 13, the upper end. of which has. two

.shoulders14, at opposite sides of an upwardly .extendingprojection 15, which with-theshoulders 14:, Fig. 4,.forms a fulcrum-seat on which is pivotally mounted an angular post-clamping member comprising a plate 16, th angle portion of which is pivotally seated on the shoulders 14, and which is provided with a hole 17, in which the projection 15 is loosely fitted.

The plate 16 is provided with means for clampingly engaging the adjacent post 2, comprising, preferably, the inner inclined portion of the plate having a hole 18, in which the adjacent post 2 is adapted toloosely fit, when the plate 16 is forced from an inclined clamping position, shown in Fig. 1, toward a horizontal position. In the inclined clamping position the pressure of the leaves 3 on the member 4, or any upward pull on the latter will cause the post-clamping members or plates 16 to clampingly engage the posts 2, and will hold the member 4 from upward movement, but will swing upwardly sufficiently at its clamping end to permit the member 1 being forced downwardly.

For yieldingly holding the post-clamping member 16 in the clamping position shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a vertical coil spring 19, the lower end of which is mounted in a hole 20, in the supporting member 12, and resting on the member 4, and the upper end of which bears against the member 16 at the left side of the arm 13, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 7, the member 16 being pro vided with a downwardly extending projection 21, Fig. 7, which extends into the upper end of the spring 19, and retains the latter in operative position.

I For manually releasing the post-clamping members from clamped engagement with the posts 2, to permit the free sliding movement upwardly of the member 1, on the post, suitable means may be provided, such as a longitudinal plate 22, Figs. 1, 2 and 10, which is longitudinally slidable in the member 4:, and which at one end is provided with a longitudinal slot 23, adapted to receive therethrough one of the posts 2, and which adjacent to the other end is provided with a longitudinal slot 24, adapted to receive therethrough the other post 2.

The end portion of the plate 22 having the slot 23 is provided with two inclined cam surfaces 25 adapted to engage the under side of the clamping portion of the adjacent post clamping member 16, and to force the latter to the releaase position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 when the plate 22 is slid to the left, in Fig. 1, to a predetermined release position.

The other end portion of the plate 22 is provided with two similarly upwardly and outwardly inclined cam surfaces 26, which serve as cams for engaging the under side of the adjacent member 16, to force the latter to the release position simultaneously with the movement of the other member 16, to the release position.

For sliding the member 22 back and forth,

it has rigidly secured toit a finger piece 27, which extends through and is. slidable in a slot 28, provided in the top of the member 4:.

In the operation of my invention, after the leaves 3 have been mounted on the posts 2, the clamping member 1 is slid downwardly on said posts, with the member 22 in the position shown in Fig. 1. When the clamping member 1 is clamped against the leaves 3, the springs 19 will force the members 16 into clamped engagement with the posts 2, and will prevent upward movement of the member 4: on the posts. To release the members 16, the member 22 is slid by means of the finger piece 27 to the position shown in Fig. 7, at which time the cams 25- and 26 will have engaged and swung the members 16 to the release position, thereby permitting the member f to be slid upwardly off from the posts 2. When the member 22 is restored to the position shown in Fig. 1, the member 4 may again be held in the clamping position when slipped onto the posts 2, by the members 16, engaging the latter.

In the making of the clamping member 4, dovetail shaped recesses 5, Fig. 9, are firstcut in opposite edges of the plate, one of the meeting edges having formed in it proj ections 6 and projections for the pintle barrels, the other meeting edge having formed in it recesses 29, Fig. 9, corresponding in width and depth to the width of the last-named projections and to the thickness of the plate. The barrels 7 are then formed of said projecting portions of the plate, after which the plate is formedv into a tube of desired shape with the dove-tail projections 6 of one meeting edge fittted in the recesses 5 of the othermeeting edge and the barrel projections fitted in the recesses 29 respectively, the dove-tail projections 6 having their outer surfaces' fiush with each other. A tube thus formed with interlocking dovetail portions is very strong and cheaply made.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is e 1. In a binder, a leaf-clamping member having a holetherethrough adapted to have slidably mounted therein a leaf supporting post, a plate secured to said leaf-clamping member and havingan arm provided at one end with a projection, a post clamp-ing member fulcrumed on said arm and having a hole into which said pro ection extends, and having a hole therethrough adapted to receive said post, and arranged to be swung to a position in which it will clamp said post and hold the leaf-clamping member from moving in one direction on the post, but permitand fulcrumed on said fulcrum member and provided with a projection, a coil spring fitted in the hole in the fulcrum member and supported by said leaf-clamping member and into which the projection of the postclamping member extends and arranged toleaf-supporting post, of a leaf-clampingmember slidable thereon, a support carried by the clamping member and having a shoulder and a projection extending from said shoulder, a post-clampin member pivotally supported on said shoulder and having a 'hole into which said projection extends and which has engagement with said post such that it will clamp the post and hold the leafclamping member from sliding on the post in one direction but will permit it to slidein the other direction, a spring for normally forcing the post clamping member to the clamping position, and manually operated means for forcing the post-clamping member from the clamping position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a binder, the combination with a leaf-clamping member, two leaf-supporting posts carried thereby, a leaf-clamping member slidable on said posts, two supports carried by the slidable member, each having a shoulder and a projection extending from said shoulder, two post-clamping members respectively pivotally supported on said shoulders and having respectively holes into which said projections respectively extend, said post-clamping members having means for engagement respectively with said posts which permits the slidable member to move in one direction, but which will clampingly engage said posts when the slidable member is moved in the other direction, means for normally forcing said post-clamping meming member and having means when moved bers to the clamping position,v and manually operated means for moving the post-clamping members from the clamping position, substantially as set-forth. v

5. In a, binder, the combination with a leaf-clamping member and two posts carried thereby, of a leaf-clamping member slidable on said posts, two supports on said slidable member, each having a shoulder and a pro jection extending from said shoulder, two

post-clamping members respectively pivotally supported on said shoulders and having holes into which said projections respectively extend and having means for engagement with said posts respectively whichpermits movement of the slidable member in one direction, but which will clampingly engage said posts and hold the slidable member from movement in the opposite direction, resilient means for normally forcing the postclamping members to the clamping position, and a manually slidable member on the slidable leaf-clamping member having means, when slid from a release to an operative position, for a simultaneously moving the postclamping members from the clamping posi tion, substantially as set forth.

6. In, a binder, the combination vwith a leaf-clamping member and two posts carried thereby, of a leaf-clamping member slidable on said posts, two supports on said slidable member, eachv having a fulcrum seat, two post-clamping members respectively pivoted on said seats and held by said supports from sliding movement thereon and having means for respectively engaging said posts in a manner such that they will clampingly engage said posts respectively and hold the slidable member from movement in one direction but will permit its movement in the opposite direction, two springs for respectively forcing the post-clamping members to the clamping position, and a member manually slidable on the slidable leaf-clamping member having two cams arranged to engage and respectively simultaneously move said post clamping members from the clamping position, when the manually operated member is moved to a pre-determined position substantially as set forth.

7. In a binder, the combination with a leaf-binding member and two posts carried thereby, of a leaf-clamping member slidable on said posts, two supports on said slidable member, each having a seat provided with a projection, two post-clamping members respectively pivoted on said seats and having holes into which said projections respectively extend and provided respectively with portions inclined from perpendicular relation to said posts and respectivelybearing against said posts and arranged to clampingly engage the latter and to hold the slidable member from movement in one direction, but permitting its movement in the opposite direction, two coil springs respectively held in operative position by said supports and respectively forcing said postclamping members to the clamping position, and manually operated means for simultaneously moving said post-clamping members from the clamping position, substantially as set forth.

8. A leaf-clamping member of a. loose leaf binder comprising a metal sheet formed into a tube having interlocking meeting edges and having extending from one of the meeting edges a projection formed into a pintle tube, substantially as set forth.

9. A leaf-clamping member of a loose leaf binder comprising a metal -sheet formed into a tube with the meeting edges clovetailed into each other and having extending from one of the meeting edges a projection formed into a pintle barrel, substantially as set forth.

10. In post-clamping means of a loose leaf binder, a supporting member having an arm provided with a projection, and a postclamping member pivotally mounted on said arm having two holes for respectively receiving said projection and a leaf-supporting post, substantially as set forth.

11. In post-clamping means of a loose leaf binder, a supporting member having a hole and having an arm provided with a projection, a post-clamping member pivotally seated on said arm and having a hole into which said projection extends and having means for clampingly engaging a leafsupporting post, and a coil spring fitted in said hole and bearing against said clamping member and arranged to force the latter 'to a clamping position, substantially as set forth. j

12. The method of making .a tubular clamping member of a binder consisting in cutting in opposite edges respectively of a fiat metal plate, recesses and projections of like width, then forming the projections into pintle barrels, and then forming the plate into a tube With the meeting edges abutting against each other and the barrel projection-s fitted in said recesses, substantially as set forth.

13. The method of making a tubular clamping member of a binder consisting in cutting in opposite edges respectively of a fiat metal plate, dove-tail projections and recesses of like form and size and other projections and recesses of like width, forming the other projections into pintle barrels, and then forming the metal plate into a tube with the dovetail projections respectively fitted in the dovetail recesses of opposite edges and with the barrel projections fitted in said other recesses, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK D. PITT. 

